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"This matter has been confirmed by Queen Mystic and will not have a negative impact on you," Leyton quickly explained.
"What kind of deal did you make with the Queen?" This was Cattleya's most pressing question.
For the Queen to directly place a stranger on her ship, even if she had made the necessary prophecies, was still very surprising.
"An opportunity to advance to Sequence 2 Sage," Leyton answered directly, without concealing the content of the deal.
Cattleya nodded knowingly. "I understand. So, how long do you plan to stay on the Future, and in what capacity?"
"About half a year, I suppose. As for my identity, a crew member will do. Oh, as a crew member, will I still have time for experiments?" Leyton stated his thoughts directly.
"Mm, follow me," Cattleya said, then turned and walked into the cabin.
Leyton followed behind, curiously observing the pirate ship. Bugs Bunny, having confirmed there was no danger, had already hopped down from Leyton's shoulder and was bouncing around the ship, touching everything.
Cattleya's gaze swept over the rabbit, not lingering.
"This is a Planter pathway rabbit, my experimental assistant," Leyton explained when he saw her looking at Bugs Bunny.
"No, it's not! I do all the experiments; you just stand there and talk!" Bugs Bunny retorted impolitely.
Upon hearing this, Cattleya's gaze paused. This rabbit was much smarter than it appeared, or rather, aside from its rabbit-like appearance, it showed no other rabbit-like traits.
"Yo! Captain, is this the new guy? Our ship hasn't even docked, how did he get on board?"
A woman over 1.8 meters tall, with blonde hair, unremarkable features, but an excellent figure, walked over from the side.
"This is the Future's boatswain, Nina."
"Nina, this is Al Tines, the Future's new crew member for the foreseeable Future, and Frank's assistant."
Cattleya took the opportunity to introduce the two.
"Frank's assistant? Captain, are you sure Frank still needs an assistant?" Nina didn't feel too good after hearing the words "Frank's assistant."
"He's brought Frank new research projects, so he won't have to bother with cows, fish, and mushrooms for a while," Cattleya explained.
Nina's expression improved significantly, and she no longer dwelled on the matter of Frank's assistant, instead greeting Leyton.
"I'm Nina, the Future's boatswain and navigator's deputy."
"I've seen your information, 'Killer of the Deep' Nina, bounty 3,600 pounds," Leyton instinctively blurted out the information given by the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.
"You're looking at my wanted poster, aren't you? Your way of greeting is certainly unique," Nina laughed playfully, not getting angry about it.
"Uh, I don't know much about things at sea, so I can only judge the danger level based on official wanted posters," Leyton casually made up an excuse.
"Is that so? It seems I'm quite well-regarded by the authorities if you bothered to remember me," Nina said heartily.
"Is this your rabbit? Is it also a Beyonder creature like that cat?" Nina quickly turned her gaze to Bugs Bunny, who was dressed like a wandering Magician, and asked curiously.
"Are there other Beyonder animals here? What do they look like?" Bugs Bunny's attention was immediately drawn.
"It's a very cute black cat!" Nina said with a smile.
"Black cat?"
Leyton thought of Paz the cat he met in Madan, wondering where that fellow had gone with Ilisa.
After Nina left, Leyton followed behind Cattleya to the laboratory on the lower deck of the ship, where he happened to encounter Frank Lee, who was outside organizing his experimental products.
Several brightly colored fish, as if painted with oil, were being tossed into a wooden barrel by Frank. A smell of mixed alcohol emanated from the fish.
"Frank, let me introduce someone to you. He will be a crew member of the Future for a while, and also your experimental assistant," Cattleya called out to Frank.
"Captain? I don't need an experimental assistant!" Unexpectedly, Frank refused the offer of an assistant.
"Hello, my name is Al Tines. I'm a collaborator with the Church of the Earth Mother. I have an experiment that requires your help, and I specifically came to the Future to find you," Leyton didn't expect Frank to react this way, so he had to find a way to persuade him first.
Frank was stunned for a moment. After sizing up Leyton, he asked with some doubt, "You're probably not a Beyonder of the Planter pathway, are you?"
"That's right, which is why I need your help even more. You don't need to worry about the Church of the Earth Mother, because this proposal has been approved by the Earth Mother. The Church of the Earth Mother is a participant, but not the leader."
As Leyton spoke, he opened the leather briefcase he was carrying and took out the holy emblem given by the Church of the Earth Mother from inside.
Frank was stunned. After taking the holy emblem of the Church of the Earth Mother, he felt the Earth Mother's aura on it. What the other party said was true!
Cattleya was also stunned when she saw Leyton take out a clearly blessed holy emblem.
Being able to produce a holy emblem from the Church of the Earth Mother, yet not appearing to be a member of the Church of the Earth Mother from his demeanor, made Cattleya curious about Leyton's identity.
"If you can complete this experiment, you will definitely gain the Earth Mother's approval. Perhaps in the Future, those people from the Church of the Earth Mother will even call you Saint Frank!" Leyton seized the opportunity to continue persuading Frank.
"What kind of experiment is it?" Frank wavered under Leyton's continuous persuasion.
He really wanted to gain the Earth Mother's approval, to let those people in the Church know that his ideas were correct.
Leyton breathed a sigh of relief, though he was somewhat worried about what kind of mess the Church of the Earth Mother would become if Frank returned to the Church of the Earth Mother and became Saint Frank.
But, that was the Earth Mother's concern. He just wanted to fulfill the promise he had blurted out at the Church of the Earth Mother as soon as possible.
He repeated what he had said at the Church of the Earth Mother, and also had Bugs Bunny take out its grafting experimental results.
Frank was finally convinced by Leyton.
"I'll join this experiment, but it will require a lot of materials to accumulate a large amount of experimental data, so it won't be completed in a short time," Frank immediately began discussing the experiment after agreeing.
"That's not a problem. I can directly apply to the Church of the Earth Mother for experimental materials, and there's no time limit," Leyton explained.
He then added, "The Church of the Earth Mother has already begun promoting new varieties of grafted products. I believe it won't be long before the news reaches even the sea."
After discussing the details with Leyton, Frank wanted to pull Leyton to start the experiment immediately.
Leyton handed Bugs Bunny over to Frank, then simply used the excuse of needing to familiarize himself with the ship's environment, and left Frank's laboratory with Cattleya.
"You don't seem to want to do experiments with Frank?" Cattleya asked, puzzled.
"I have a make-up exam soon, so I need to hurry up and prepare, otherwise it will be difficult to apply for the next Sequence's potion," Leyton said helplessly.
There wasn't much time left for the make-up exam that Mr. Hughes had agreed to postpone for him, and he hadn't really studied during his time away from Madan.
"Make-up exam?" Cattleya became even more confused by Leyton's explanation.
"An exam for the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. I failed last time, so I have to retake it!" Leyton explained somewhat awkwardly.
Cattleya's gaze towards Leyton grew more puzzled. As someone from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, he was helping the Church of the Earth Mother, and he could even make a deal with the Queen for an opportunity to advance to Sequence 2.
He was full of mysteries, and she couldn't immediately judge whether letting Leyton stay on the Future was good or bad.
"I hope the Queen's judgment is correct, and he truly won't bring negative impacts to the Future."
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